The “Help Tackle Hunger” food drive by Residential and Hospitality Services and MSU Athletics, held March 11 through April 13, had record results this year with 1,452 pounds of food and $3,681 in monetary donations for the MSU Student Food Bank.
”The food drive culminated at the Green & White game after a monthlong collection of monetary and food donations at select retail locations,” said Associate Director of Retail Food Services William Kost.
This year, in partnership with Michigan State Athletics, Farm Bureau Insurance of Michigan supported the efforts with food collection at the entrances of Spartan Stadium during the game. Statewide agents were onsite to collect nonperishable food donations.
“Farm Bureau initiated a food collection at the Green & White game, which has not been activated for many years,” Kost said. “The amount of food collected was significant.”
The 2019 food drive marks the first time in five years that the combined efforts of community members have resulted in the collection of more than 1,000 pounds of food. Founded in 1993, the MSU Student Food Bank was the first in the nation to be operated by students, for students. It serves more than 6,000 students annually, many with families, distributing more than 110,000 pounds of food.
Since 2010, the Help Tackle Hunger food drive also has collected over 17,000 pounds of food and over $21,000 for the MSU Student Food Bank.